Many companies in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru are offering a host of incentives – from free food to taxi rides – to people voting in India’s general election.

Located in Karnataka state, Bengaluru is often in the news for its low voter turnout during elections.

So hotels, taxi services and other firms have announced initiatives to encourage people to cast their ballot.

These include free beer, discounted cab rides and even free health check-ups.

At some food outlets, customers would need to show their finger stained with indelible ink as proof they’ve voted.

The city is voting on Friday in the second phase of the seven-day election.

On Wednesday, the state’s high court allowed an association of hotels to give food for free or at discounted prices as long as it did not violate election guidelines.

“Different hotels and restaurants will be providing different things to the voters based on their personal call,” PC Rao, president of the hotel association, told the Bangalore Mirror newspaper.

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